Blood of the Abyss

Blood of the Abyss Part 13

Chapter 13

The Great Escape

Caspian

Seeing Lysandra unconscious, I scrambled over to her and checked to see if her chest was rising. I didn't see any movement, and I quickly pressed my ear against her chest, hoping her heart was still beating. I heard the faint fast thumping of her heart, and I quickly sat her up and hit her against her back with the heel of my hand, trying to help her expel the water from her lungs. After a few hits, she started to cough up the water onto the deck.

"Thelran!" I shouted. "We have to get something on that wound." He nodded and ripped the edge of his thin cloak.

"Give me that! Go grab me a water skin from the pack, Thel." Illine pushed her brother to the side and grabbed the torn piece of cloak from his hand. He returned with the water and she rinsed the wound out and I watched as blood seemed to be gushing out of the leg. She then tore off more pieces from the cloak and packed them into the wound and then tore another piece to wrap the leg. She worked methodically as if she had done this before. "Stop staring at me and check on her breathing!" She yelled at me, knocking me out of my stupor. I quickly moved to a sitting position and leaned Lysandra back against me. She was breathing heavily and her skin was as pale as the white sheets of my bed in Aglarim. Definitely not a normal skin tone, but she had lost a lot of blood. I tapped a finger against her cheek to try and stir her awake.

"Lys." I said into her ear. "You need to wake up." I felt her shift against me and groan. "Come on, Lys." I said a little louder. "I need you to wake up."

"Why?" Her voice was faint and raspy.

"You've lost a lot of blood." I said with a smile pulling on my lips. I laid my head on top of hers, relieved that for now, Lysandra was awake at the very least.

"Her eyes are still closed, Cas. Get her to open her eyes." Illine said as she watched the wound, trying to ensure that enough pressure was being applied to help stop the bleeding.

"Open your eyes for me, Lys?" I moved myself from behind to her and held her upright with a steady hand on her back. I moved my head so I could see into her pale face. Her eyes were still closed, though there was a rapid movement behind her eyelids. I placed my hand against her cheek and lightly caressed it with my thumb. "C'mon, Lys. Open your eyes." She started to slowly blink and I could see her brilliant eyes, slightly dim, as if her life was being drained from her, right before me.

"Hi, Cas." She said weakly. A half grin struggled to make an appearance on her face.

"Hey there." I smiled and leaned over to kiss her forehead. The storm around us had started to calm.

"Alwine, how much further to land? We are going to have to stitch up Lysandra's leg." Illine called to the helm.

"We are almost there. I can see the shore." Alwine grunted.

"Keep her talking, Cas." Illine eyed me.

"I...can talk just fine, Illine." Lysandra breathed heavily. She shifted, trying to adjust herself and let out a yelp of pain.

"We might need something to dull the pain." I suggested, a look of concern flashing across my face.

"The only thing I can think of is alcohol." Illine shrugged, checking the wound again.

"Alwine!" I called. "I need some of that brew!"

"Catch!" A bottle came flying down from the helm, which I caught with my free hand. I shifted myself to be behind Lysandra again so I could open the bottle.